Radio instruction key



Feb. 15, 1944. A A M N 2,341,591

RADIQ INSTRUCTION KEY Filed Dec. 11, l942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ABCDEFGHIJKLM oPQRs'Tu Inventor 1944.: .1. A. BLACKMAN 3 5 RADIO INSTRUCTION KEY Filed Dec. 11, 1942 2 Sheet's-Sheet 2 I 7 IX\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ Inventor J51 B Za ckmn/ B 94mm Patented Feb. 15, 1944 UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE RADIO INSTRUCTION KEY John A. Blackman, Pensacola, Fla. Application December 11, 1942, erial No. 468,727

1 Claim.

The present'invention relates to new and useful improvements in radio instruction keys, and

has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character comprising novel means for accelerating the learning by beginners and others of different radio codes.

Another very important object of the inventionis to provide, in a radio instruction key of the type including signal energizing contacts engageable by -a manually moved brush or the like, a unique construction for mounting said contacts on a supporting structure.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a radio instruction key of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, light in weight, and which may be manufactured at low cost. a

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a radio instruction k'ey constructed in accordance with the present invention, v

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section, taken substantially on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view through the panel, taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail view in perspective of an end portion of one of the contact bars.

' Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in top plan of a corner portion of the panel.

Figure 6 is a detail view in elevation of the manually operated contact brush.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it

- will be seen'that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises aboard l which may be of any desired dimensions. Mounted on the board I is a panel 2 of suitable non-conducting material such, for example, as plywood.

.The panel 2 has formed therein spaced, parallel grooves or channels 2 which extend from end to end of said panel.- The grooves 3 are for the reception of metallic bars 4. Projecting from the bars 4 are integral contacts 5 which, as illustrated to advantage in Figure 2 of the drawings, extendslightly beyond the face of the panel 2. A filler 6. of suitable material, such as plastic wood, is placed in the portions of the grooves 3 which are not occupied by'the elements 4 and 5. The tiller sis flush with the face of the panel 2. Suitable identifying characters I are placed on the face of the panel 2 00 adjacent the corresponding groups of dot and dash contacts 5.

A metallic bar 8 electrically connects the contact bars 4 at one end of the panel 2. The bar .8, in turn, is electrically connected at 9 to a binding post l-U on the panel 2.

A hand operated brush il, engageable with the contacts 5, is electrically connected to a binding post I! on the panel 2 by a conductor I3. A battery 16 is interposed in the conductor l3. If desired, a switch controlled blinker light (not shown) may be interposed in the conductor l3. Suitable resilient cl ps hi are electrically connected by conductors 15 to the binding posts I causing the dot and dash signals. Thus, thestudent in a comparatively short time is enabled tomemorize the code of the key on which he is learning. Of course, the contacts 5 may be arranged for various codes. As hereinbefore mentioned, a blinker light may be interposed in the electric circuit to permit the student to visualize the code.

It is believed that the many advantages of a radio instruction key constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it .is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A radio instruction key comprising a board, a panel of electricity insulating material mounted on said board in spaced relation thereto, said panel having a plurality of spaced, parallel grooves therein extending from end to end thereof, metallic bars mounted in the grooves to one side of an electric signal, a manually oper-- able brush engageable with the contacts, and means for electrically connecting said brush to the other side of the signal.

JOHN A. BLACKMAN. 

